On Thursday Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Germany and Israel agree that Iran should never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons but they differ on how to achieve this goal.

BERLIN, GERMANY – JULY 05: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on July 5, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Germany recently reached a compromise within its government over migration policy. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Merkel said, “We are very convinced and strongly share Israel’s position that everything must be done to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Where we are not always united is on the path to this goal.”

Iran’s military presence in Syria and Lebanon was a threat to Israel, she added.